Sliding charge density waves: A numerical study.

Numerical results are presented for the behavior of a one-dimensional, classical, deformable charge-density-wave pinned by random impurities in applied electric fields below and close to the threshold field for sliding. We discuss the properties of metastable states and show how they can give rise to hysteresis and memory. The linear dielectric response function shows a cusp-like frequency dependency at low frequencies; the non- linear response is also strongly enhanced at low frequencies. At fields just exceeding threshold, we find very long relaxation times for the system to reach dynamic equilibrium, with strong broad-band noise produced as a transient effect. The effect of thermal hopping at low temperatures is briefly discussed.